Electrically operated amusement and educational device



Oct. 4, 1932.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AMUSEM'ENT AND EDUCATIONAL DEVICE J. M.'PREN-rlcr;

Filed Oct. 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FaZZ/e 1Y0. 53221. l

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Od. 4, 1932. J, MPREN-ng 1,881,242

ELECTRICALLY OXERATED AMUSEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL DEVICE Filed Oct. 22,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2V A TTORNEY.

Patented oci. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT Vol-l-ICE JAMES MASDNPRENTICE, OF HOLYQKE, MASSACHUSETTS .Application led October 22, '1929.Serial No. 401,477.

y This invention relatos to improvements in electrically operatedamusement and educational devices.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of such anature that it will not only furnish amusement for the user, but will,at the same time, serve as an instructive and educational means fortesting the memory of the user and his general knowledge or education.

Briefly considered, it comprises two tables, or charts, one comprising aseries of questions and the other a series of answers. For the purposeof utilizing the two tables, or charts, two series of groups ofelectrical contacts and circuit closing means for the contacts areprovided. A suitable signal device, as a glow lamp or bell, is includedin the circuit connections which will indicate to the user when thecomplete series of questions and answers are accurately answered, aswill be fully described in the body of the specifications andparticularly pointed out in the claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

In the practical embodiment or carrying out of my invention, the twosets of contacts, circuit closing means, as lever switch arms, thesignal device and electrical circuits are mounted on and secured to asuitable support, as a box-like member, the interior portion of whichfurnishes means for the wiring connections.

Referring to the drawings: l

Fig. 1 indicates a chart or table showing the questions and answers.

Fig. 2 indicates another chart or table showing another set of questionsand answers.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the container for the operative parts withthe two sets of contacts and contact arms.

Fig. 4 is a view of the interior construction with ythe cover removed,showing the electrical connections.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the box or container, as a whole, having the cover 2 onwhich the series umn 1. As the correct answer is Adams 10 of groups ofelectrical contacts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are located and secured. 8 aremovable contact levers that turn on the pivots 9 of each group.

10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are a second series of groups of electricalcontacts. 15 designates the movable contact levers that engage thecontacts of this second sericsof groups which turn on the pivots 16. 17is a dry cell battery that is secured to the interior of the box 30 bymeans of the clamp 18. 19 are threaded brackets carrying the contactscrews 20.

For the purpose of clearly following the circuits, the wires whichconnect each one of the contacts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of each of the 65groups 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are connected to each of the contacts of thesecond series of groups 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, which have the samenumerals, namely, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Each of these'contacts in each ofthe groups 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 is also designated with the capitalletters A. B. C. D. and E., in order to correspond or check up'with theanswers on the chart, shown in Fig. 1 having these same capital letters.

. 15 Referring now to Fig. 1, which shows the chart or'puzzle embodyingthe educational exercise, this chart is arbitrarily numbered .53221. Thefive questions are designated on this chart by the bracketed numeral 21opposite the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, on the horizontal lines, and theanswers are designated by the bracketed numeral 22 opposite lthe lettersA B C D and E on the horizontal mes.

The device is operated as follows: The operator first places each of thecontact levers 8 on a contact of the groups 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7,

which correspond with the numerals in the puzzle numbers,-5, v3, 2, 2, 1as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. Next, the operator revfers to thequestions on the chart shown in Fig. 1. The first question of group 21is: Who was the second President of the United States? In order to`answer this question, the operator must now exercise his knowledge ofhistory and select his answer from the group indicated at 22 on one ofthe lines designed A. B. C. D. or E., and in colon the horizontal lineB, he now turns the contact lever of the contact group 10 to engage theB contact. on line 2 of the chart in Fig. 1 is: Who was the firstSecretary of the Treasury', which is shown on horizontal line 2 of groupThe answer, as before, is to be selected from one of the names on thehorizontal lines A B C D or E, Group 22 and in the vertical column 2,which column corresponds in number with the second question on line 2 ofgroup 21. As the4 correct answer is Hamilton on line E, the lever 15,shown in full lines in Fig. 3 is placed on the contact E of group 1,1.In this way, all of the answers to the questions' on the chart shown inFig. 1 are answered land the levers 15 of Fig:` 3 are positioned orplaced respectively' with reference to the lettered contacts B. E. B. B.and A. of the groups 10, 111, 12, 13 and 14. Asthese are the correctanswers, the electrical circuit is complete as follows batt'ery 17, wire23, contact lever 15 and contact B ofv group 10, wirel 24 from thiscontact to contact 3 of group 4, lever 8, wire25 to lever 8 of group 3,contact 5 of this group, wire 26 to Contact 5 of group 12, lever 15,wire 27, lever 15 of group 11, contact 2, wire 28 to contact 2 of group5, lever .8, wire 29, lever 8 of group 6 and contact 2 thereof, wire 30to contact A of group- 14, lever 15, wire 31, lever 15 of group 13,contact B, wire 32, from contact 1 of this group to contact 1 of group7, lever 8, wire 33 to the lamp 34 and the other terminal of thebattery. It will,

therefore, be seen that unless the correctV answers in group 22 selectedfrom the live columns and the levers 15 are properly placed to agreewith the letters A B C D and E, the light 34 will not glow. In otherwords, -the operator is put to a very accurate mental test in selectinghis answers from the chart 22.'v

There is, therefore, more chances of error arising than correctness.Should anyone of the levers 15 not be correctly located, the

' lamp 34 will not glow. There are 3,125 possible combinations with thefive levers 15, the live answers on lines A BC D and E and the fivevertical columns of group 22.

Referring to the second puzzle, numbered 34521 of the chart shown inFig. 2: The levers 8 of Fig. 3 are placed in the dotted line positionson the respective contacts 3, 4, 5, 2

and 1 of which corresponds with this puzzle number-34521--of Fig. 2. y

The questions are indicated by the brackf cted .reference numeral 35 andthe answers by the bracket reference numeral 36. This chart is used inthe same manner as that already described. The irst question v: Themaple leaf is the emblem of what country 3 e The answer is found on oneof the horizontal lines A B C D or E and in the vertical column 1 toagree with the first question on line l of group 35. As the answer is-The next question Canada-on line C, the lever 15 of Figs. 3 and 4 areplaced on the C contact. The second question: What is the name of thecalendar in general use Gregorian found on line C of vertical column 2,the lever 15 of group 11 is placed on the C contact. The remainingquestions and answers are solved in the same manner with the levers 15on the contacts shown in Fig. 4. The electric circuit is as follows:battery 17, wire 23, lever 15, contact C, wire 37 from contact 4 -tocontact 4 of group 4, lever 8, wire 25, lever 8, group 3, contact 3,wire 38 to contact B, lever 15, wire 27, lever 15, contact C, wire 39from contact 5 to contact 5.of group 5, lever 8, wire 29, lever 8,

4contact 2, group 6, wire 40 to contact A, lever 15, wire 31, lever'15,contact B, Iwire 41 to contact 1 of group 7 and wire 33 to the lamp 34and battery 18. y

It will be seen from the description that I have worked out an amusementand educational device that is capable of wide use in affording a mentaltest for the user. In practice, the levers 8 are arbitrarily set for anypuzzle number, as shown. Then the answers are worked out with referenceto the questions in order to make the electrical circuits complete. l

What I. claim is:

1; In a device for the purpose described, an educational chart bearingan arbitrary key number, a series of groups of electrical contacts, amanually operated contact lever for each group, the contacts beingdesignated to correspond with numerals composing the key number, thesaid chart having a series of questions and a series of answerstherefor, the answers being contained in columns which correspond innumber with the questions, and a second series of groups of electricalcon tacts, corresponding with the answers, a manually operated contactlever for each group, electrical connections between the two series ofgroups of contacts and a signal ,device in the connections forindicating when the several correct answers are determined by thecorrect positioning of the second series of contact levers. f

2. An amusement and educational device for the purpose describedcomprising a supporting member, two series of groups of designatedelectrical contacts on said member a closure contact lever for eachcontact o each group,a key Vor chart having an arbitrary key number, awire connecting each one of the contacts of one group with a contact ofanother group, the levers of some of the groups being electricallyconnected together, the end levers of each series of groups beingrespectively connected tov the terminals of a sourceof7electricalenergy, and a signal device in the said -last mentionedconnection which will operate, when each of the leversA As the answerismined with reference to said key or chart y device. A t

3. A device for the (purpose described comprising aquestion an pluralityof series of groups of numbered v electrical contacts, a reference charthaving numbers a separate manually operated contact lever for each groupof each serles, a source of electrical energy, connectlons from thesource to one of the series, cross connections from the contacts of oneseries to the contacts of the other, a signal devlce 1n the completedconnections made by the said contact lever, whereby, when the contactlevers of each series are on the numbered contacts corresponding to thenumbers on the chart,

the circuit will be complete and the signal device will be operate Intestimony whereof, I havehereunt? signed my name atDurham, in the countyo Stra'ord, and State of 15th day of October, 1929.

JAMES. MASON PREN'I'ICE.

answer chart, having numbers,a series of groups of designated contactsthat correspond fin number with the and answers,the signal v NewHampshire, this

